BBQ Tools Decoded (What You REALLY need & what you don't)

BBQ season is coming up, and if you're anything like us, you can't wait! The smell of foods cooking in open air – you just can't beat it.

Around about now is also when you perhaps start looking at some of your BBQ tools and think 'Hmmm......I can get something better than that!'

However, not all BBQ tools are necessary. We've found some BBQ tool sets with 20 pieces included.

TWENTY PIECES!

Talk about serious overkill! The truth is, there are some tools that are absolutely necessary. And others? Well, let's just say that if you 'forked out' (pardon the pun) on these colossal sets, chances are, you'll use about 3 or 4 items, and the rest will just get stored away.

Let's go through exactly what you actually need to create delicious barbecued foods:

1) BBQ tongs with long handles

You need to flip foods easily. Ever tried flipping sausages? They roll around all over the place!

Tongs are invaluable for gripping items, particularly cylindrical items like sausages. Opt for tongs which have 'teeth' which will allow you to grip foods better.

 Also, make sure the tongs have long handles – you want your hands as far away from the heat source as possible – no one enjoys burning their fingers!

2) BBQ spatula with long handles

You can use tongs to flip burgers, fish fillets etc, but you'll find that tongs can break up and damage certain foods.

Homemade burgers, for example, are more likely to fall apart as they have less 'gunk' in them to keep them clumped together. Fish fillets are always delicate.

You need a spatula that is thin enough for you to slip under fragile foods so you can easily flip them over. Again, look for one that has a long handle so your hands remain safe.

3) BBQ Fork with long handles

If you've ever tried to turn a potato, or other large vegetable, with either tongs or a spatula, you'll know how annoying it can be!

Tongs are great for gripping foods, but large, round objects are difficult to grip. And using a spatula on these types of food makes them roll around.

A good fork where you can skewer foods like this is invaluable.

A word of warning, Please do not skewer meats with a fork! We see this time and time again!

The fork is for large, rounded food items. Skewering meat allows the juices to escape, which results in dried up meats which taste like leather!

For meats, use the spatula or tongs.

4 ) BBQ grill mats

Everyone loves a BBQ, but no one likes cleaning up!

One of the biggest chores being scrubbing grill grates clean of dried on foods, or fishing out bits of food that have fallen between the grates.

Use a top quality grill mat and your foods will never touch the grates. Yet, the mat will be thin enough for the heat to penetrate through, and you'll still get those gorgeous grills marks on burgers, steaks etc.

Also, grill mats can be thrown into a dishwasher, so you don't even need to scrub them clean.

Once you start using grill mats, you'll wonder how you ever grilled without them!

5) BBQ / Meat Thermometer

This is probably THE most important utensil, and yet the most overlooked one!

Unless you have x-ray vision, it's impossible to tell if food items on a barbecue are safe to eat.

More people get food poisoning from outdoor barbecues than any other type of food event. Don't let your (under) cooking send your loved ones to ER!

Keep a good cooking thermometer handy whenever you barbecue, and use this handy guide to ensure your foods are cooked to safe temperatures.

And that's it! You don't need lots of different knives, different shaped tongs etc.

If you're really clever, you'll even look for ingenious additions built-in to the above essential BBQ utensils.

For example, the spatula in our BBQ Grill Set has a built-in bottle opener, a meat tenderizer, AND a cutting knife!

You might think you look like a 'pit master' when you open up a toolbox of 20+ BBQ utensils.

But real pit masters know, it's all about having just a few, well-made, inventive tools that will see you through many BBQ events for many years.

Want to learn some more secrets? Read our 9 Steps to BBQ Pit Master Status.

Roll on BBQ season!

Remember you can buy any or all of these fabulous BBQ Tools in time for the Summer for 15% OFF your entire order from our store today!

Don't delay, get grilling today! :)